Circuit controlling device



April 22, 1952 M. P. WOLVERTON 2,593,642

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 M. P. WOLVERTON CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE April 22, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1950 I N VEN TOR. Ala me f M/w/tm BY w Patented Apr. 22, 1952 CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Mai-cine P. Wolverton, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Lyndon A. Durant, Chicago, 111.

Application August 26, 1950, Serial No. 181,593

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in circuit controlling devices of the type in which there are contacts arranged for successive engagement by a switch element. In this aspect of the invention a principal object is to provide an arrangement for releasably latching the switch element from engagement with the contacts and for actuating said latching arrangement to permit release of the switch element for engagement with such contacts.

A device of this character is capable of many uses. In the instant case it hasbeen particularly designed for use in connection with amusement game apparatuses wherein it is desirable to employ a light arrangement to simulate the movement of an object or figure over a display panel or a playing board. To accomplish such use of the invention it is a further object to provide an arrangement of parts which will cooperate with each other to efiectively and positively control in the most economical manner the electric circuit to such light elements.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same takensubstantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a switch element in latched position;

Fig. 4 i a perspective view showing the switch element cooperating with a cam to dispose the former in latched position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 3 showing the switch element in advanced position with respect to the elevating cam;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the switch element partially released from latched position;

Fig. '7 is a perspective View similar to Fig. 6 illustrating the releasing mechanism in its rela-- tionship to the switch element latching means;

and

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-12) like. It is fixedly mounted upon posts II of which there may be four, one at each corner of the mounting plate I0. This mounting plate has arranged on one surface I2 thereof a plurality of independent contact plates I3 arranged in circle formation upon the plate I0. These contact plates I3 are connected by a suitable electric circuit to one side of a power source, the other side of the power source being connected to one side of the electric element, such as a lamp or the like, to be controlled by the device.

The plate I0 provides a centrally located opening I4 through which projects a driven shaft I5. This shaft I5 may be rotated by a suitable power mechanism, such for example, an electric motor or the like. This shaft I5 has its end portion fixedly secured in a bushing I'I formed as a reduced portion of a collar I8 and into which the outer end portion I6 of the shaft is fixedly secured.

The collar I3 has fixedly secured thereto for rotation therewith a plate I9 comprising radially extending arms 20, each of a like construction. Likewise fixedly secured to the collar I8 in spaced relation with respect to the plate I9, is a plate 2|. This plate 2|, like the plate I9, provides radially extending arms 22 of conductive material and arranged substantially in parallel relation with respect to the arms 20.

At the end of each arm 20 there is provided a latching mechanism for the adjacent arm 22. Such latching mechanism comprises a plate 23 pivotally connected as at 23 to an upstanding flange 24 formed as an integral part of the arm 20.

The plate 23 comprises a depending latch finger 25 having a latch head 26 adapted to project through an elongated slot 21 formed in the adjacent contact arm 22. The plate 23 also provides a trip finger 28 having a horizontally turned portion 29 which is adapted to be engaged by a trip arm 30. The plate 23 is limited in its pivotal movement by the action of a spring 3| and by the contact arm 22, it being noted that in either of the two positions of the arm 22 the finger 25 remains projected in the slot 21.

Each arm 22 is formed to maintain a curved formation with respect to its long axis so that the contact head 32 carried by the arm 22, when such arm is not in latched position with respect to the latch finger 25, will engage the contact plates I3 when the plates I9 and 20 are simultaneously rotated by rotation of the shaft I 5.

A simple arrangement is provided for latching the arms 22 in latched position with respect to their respective latch finger 25. This is accomplished by providing upon the plate l0 an elongated cam 33. The position of this cam 33 upon the plate H1 is such that it will engage the contact heads 32 whereby to successively flex the arms 22 to the position shown in Fig. 4, in which position the latch head 26 engages beneath the arm 22 upon pivotal movement of the plate 23 by the action of the spring 3|. Such arm will remain in such position until released from latched engagement with the latch finger 25.

This releasing operation is accomplished by mounting upon the plate It an electromagnetic coil 34. The mounting bracket 35 of this coil 34 pivotally carries the armature 36 of which the trip arm 36 is formed as an integral part.

It is intended that the coil 34 be energized at,

a time when the trip finger 28 is disposed in the path of movement of the trip arm 3% so that upon energization of the coil t l the trip ,arm 3%] will be brought to bear upon the trip finger 28 and. thereby pivot the plate 23 against the action of the spring 3| to move the latch head 26 from latched engagement with respect to the arm 22. That permits the arm 22 to assume its flexed position in engagement with respect to the contact plates I3 with which it is successively brought into contact. I

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when one of the arms 22 is released from latched position, such arm will be in a position in which position such finger is held until released by energization of the coil 34. This coil 34 may be energized by the closing of a target switch. When energized the trip arm 36 will in the manner hereinbefore stated pivot the plate 23 to release the finger for engagement suc- I cess'iveiy with the contacts [3.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and eifective arrangement for controlling the illumination of electric lights used to simulate movement of an object or figure.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1', therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as some within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a mounting plate having arranged on one side thereof in circular formation a plurality of separate contact plates, a shaft centrally extending through the mounting plate for rotation with respect to such plate, a member carried by the shaft and providing a plurality of 4 radially extending arms, a second member carried by the shaft and having a plurality of radially extending arms for yieldable engagement successively with said contact plates, latch means carried by the arms of the first member and adapted for latched engagement with the arms of the second member to releasably latch said arms of said second member from engagement with respect to said contact plates, means carried by the mounting plate in the path of movement of the arms of the second member for moving said arms of said second chamber into position for latched engagement with said latch means, and means carried by said mounting plate and adapted for engagement with said latch means to unlatch the arms of said second member from said latch means.

2. A device of the class described comprising a mounting plate having arranged on one side thereof in circular formation a plurality of separate contact plates, a shaft centrally extending through the mounting plate for rotation with respect to such plate, a member carried by the shaft and providing a plurality of radially eX- tending arms, a second member carried by the shaft and having a plurality of radially extending arms for yieldable engagement successively with said contact plates, latch means carried by the arms of the first member and adapted for latched engagement with the arms of the second member to releasably latch said arms of said second member from engagement with respect to said contact plates, cam means carried by the mounting plate in the path of movement of the arms of the secondv member for moving said arms of said second member into position for latched engagement with said latch means, and means carried by said mounting plate and adapted for engagement with said latch means to unlatch the arms of said second member from said latch means.

3. A device of the class described comprising a mounting plate having arranged on one side thereof in circular formation a plurality of separate contact plates, a shaft centrally extending through the mounting plate for rotation with respect to such mounting plate, a member carried by the shaft and providing a plurality of radially extending arms, a second member carried by the shaft and having a plurality of radially extending arms for yieldable engagement successively with said contact plates, latch meanscarried by the arms of the first member and adapted for latched engagement with the arms of the second member to releasably latch said arms of said second member from engagement. with respect to said. contact plates, means carried by the mounting plate in the path of movement of the arms of the second member for moving said arms of said second member into position for latched engagement with said latch means, and electromagnetic means carried by said mounting plate and adapted for engagement with said latch means to unlatch the arms of said second memher from said latch means.

4. A device of the class described comprising a mounting plate having arranged on one side thereof in circular formation a. plurality of separate contact plates, a shaft centrally extending through the mounting plate for rotation with respect to such plate, a member carried by the shaft and providing a plurality of radially ex tending arms, a second member carried. by the shaft and having a plurality of radially extend-V ing arms for yieldable engagement successively with said contact plates, latch means carried by the arms of the first member and adapted for latched engagement with the arms of the second member to releasably latch said arms of said second member from engagement with respect to said contact plates, cam means carried by the mounting plate in the path of movement of the arms of the second member for moving said arms of said second member into position for latched engagement with said latch means, and electromagnetic means carried by said mounting plate and adapted for engagement with said latch means to unlatch the arms of said second member from said latch means.

5. A device of the class described comprising a mounting plate having arranged on one side thereof in circular formation a'plurality of separate contact plates, a shaft centrally extending through the mounting plate for rotation with respect to such plate, a member carried by the shaft and providing a plurality of radially extending arms, a second member carried by the shaft and having a plurality of radially extending arms for yieldable engagement successively with said contact plates, latch means carried by the arms of the first member and adapted for latched engagement with the arms of the second member to releasably latch said arms of said second member from engagement with respect to said contact plates, means carried by the mounting plate in the path of movement of the arms of the second member for moving said arms of said second member into position a mounting plate, a contact plate carried by the mounting plate, a rotatable shaft projecting centrally through the mounting plate, an arm rotatably carried by the shaft, a latch member pivotally carried by the arm. a contact arm carried by the rotatable shaft and having a slot formed therein and disposed substantially in spaced parallel relation with respect to the first arm and engageable with the contact plate, said last member having a latch head projecting through said slot and adapted for latched engagement'with said contact arm, means for flexing said contact arm for said latched engagement with said latch head, and means adapted to engage said latch member to disengage the latch head from said contact arm.

7. A device of the class described comprising a mounting plate, a contact plate carried by the mounting plate, a rotatable shaft projecting centrally through the mounting plate, an arm rotatably carried by the shaft, a latch member pivotally carried by the arm, a contact arm carried by the rotatable shaft and having a slot formed therein and disposed substantially in spaced parallel relation with respect to the first arm and engageable with the contact plate, said latch member having a latch head projecting through said slot and adapted for latched engagement with said contact arm, means for flexing said contact arm for said latched engagement with said latch head, and means adapted to engage said latch member to disengage the latch head from said contact arm, said last named means including an electromagnetic coil mounted on said mounting plate and having an armature providing a trip arm and said latch member having a trip finger adapted to be engaged by said trip arm.

MARCINE P. WOLVERTON.

No references cited, 

